Re:Crafting in Another World
Chapter 121: Disagree

Chapter 121: Disagree

The air in the main room was thick with tension.

Lady Cassandra stood near the tall throne of Yenissa, her arms crossed, her dark hair flowing down her back like a queen’s banner. Her eyes were fixed on Christina—her daughter—who stood in the middle of the room beside Shennong. The young woman’s eyes were filled with confusion and concern.

Romina, Rilith, and Velara were all nearby, quiet but watchful. Everyone could feel it. Something was about to happen.

"Mother?" Christina asked, her voice shaky as she walked quickly toward Cassandra. "What’s going on? What are we doing here? What is this place?"

Shennong followed close behind her, his face serious. He didn’t say a word at first.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes and looked at Shennong. "What is happening?" she asked. "Why did you ask me to come here? And why do you look like that, love?"

Shennong met her gaze.

"It’s happening," he said slowly. "Finally... it’s happening."

"What is?" Cassandra asked, her voice a mix of dread and anticipation.

Shennong’s jaw tightened. "Juno has declared war on me."

A long silence filled the room.

Cassandra lifted her hand to her forehead, a grim expression crossing her face.

"I knew this would happen..." she muttered under her breath.

Shennong looked at her quietly for a few seconds. Then, his voice was softer. "Do you regret everything?"

Her head snapped up. "Never," she said instantly. "But I don’t want to be called a traitor. I don’t want to ruin my daughter’s future because of the choices I made."

She looked at Christina, who stood silent beside her. Christina’s face was unreadable, watching everything unfold like a fragile glass ready to crack.

"I’ll handle it," Shennong said confidently. "Don’t worry."

"Handle it?" Cassandra repeated, her voice rising. "Shennong, this is Sir Juno we’re talking about. He’s the strongest knight in Sturgon! Facing him head-on is suicide!"

Shennong gave a faint smile. "Then let’s see how strong he really is."

Christina suddenly stepped forward, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Mother," she said, eyes never leaving Shennong. "Do you even know what this man did? He released a monster inside the castle. People almost died! I don’t know if you are aware, but this man is no ordinary human."

Cassandra’s eyes widened, turning to Shennong. "Is that true?"

Shennong met her gaze calmly. "Yes. It’s true. But I didn’t do it to hurt anyone. I did it to save myself. If I hadn’t, I’d be dead by now from Juno’s attack."

Cassandra fell silent, staring at him.

She thought about it. About how much she had changed. A year ago, she would have slapped him. Called him selfish. Foolish. Reckless. But now... she understood.

He had done what he had to do.

Christina, however, did not understand. Her voice cracked with disbelief.

"Mother! Why aren’t you saying anything?!"

Cassandra turned to her daughter. "Christina, calm down—"

"No!" Christina shouted. "You can’t just stay silent! We are supposed to protect people! It’s our noble duty! What he did—what you’re letting him do—it’s wrong!"

Cassandra inhaled slowly.

"Then let me ask you something," she said, her voice low but sharp. "When we were in ruins... when we were powerless... what did those people do for us?"

Christina blinked.

Cassandra stepped closer, her eyes hard. "I remember when no one would help us. When almost every servant in this castle ignored me. Why? Because they didn’t want to get on Lord Jamie’s bad side. They don’t care about anyone else beside their own loved ones. That’s how humans will be and that’s how humans had been."

Christina’s lips parted, but no words came out.

"I’ve already made my decision," Cassandra said coldly. "From now on, I only care about the people I love. And that includes you, Christina. And it includes Shennong."

Christina’s hands clenched into fists. Her jaw trembled, but she said nothing. Only gritted her teeth in silence.

Romina stepped forward. "Yenissa’s situation is getting worse," she said grimly.

Shennong’s eyes darkened. "Then it’s time," he said. "Time to show Juno the consequences of his arrogance. The next time we meet, he will answer my question."

"What are you going to do?" Cassandra asked.

Shennong smiled—but it wasn’t a kind one.

"I’m going to release our dungeon to the surface."

The entire room went still.

"I’ve already opened several entrances. It’s going to be chaos."

Velara gasped. "You can’t be serious."

"I am."

Cassandra stepped forward, voice low. "Do you know what you’re saying? You’ll start a war not just with Juno... but with the entire kingdom."

Shennong didn’t flinch. "Then let them come. Let them see what happens when they play with people I love."

"But people will die!" Christina shouted.

"And how many would die if Juno wins?" Shennong replied sharply. "Do you think he’ll stop with me? With you? With your mother? No. He’ll burn everything we care about. His sword is made up of dark power that is beyond our control. If it release most of the humans will die, yet he keeps it with him calling it is heroic power."

Romina nodded grimly. "That’s true. Christina look at these two, they are succubi they can feel dark power."

Christina felt like she was being struck with so much information at the same time.

Rilith looked shaken. "Even if we fight... are we strong enough?"

"We don’t need to win yet," Shennong said. "We just need to survive. And send a message."

"A message..." she whispered. "Shennong I don’t want you to loose the purpose...so keep casulties minimum."

Shennong gave a solemn nod. "I don’t plan to be a crazy person. Don’t worry!"

***

The capital of Sturgon had seen many things in its long history—sieges, monster outbreaks, and even political uprisings. But nothing like this.

A dungeon entrance had appeared right outside the city walls. Not just any entrance—but a massive black spire-like structure that pulsed with faint blue light. What made it even stranger was the towering wall of obsidian-like glowing stone that completely sealed the entrance. There was no door, no crack, no runes. Just... an impossible obstacle.

Sir Juno watched from horseback, his silver armor gleaming under the morning sun. His brows furrowed as he observed the dozens of laborers hacking away at the wall with enchanted picks and hammers. Sparks flew. Metal clanged. Nothing worked.

"They’ve been at it for hours," a knight beside him muttered. "Not even a scratch."

Juno narrowed his eyes. "Same as the others, then..."

He had already received similar reports from across the kingdom. Dungeon entrances had started appearing at random—dozens of them. But none could be breached. Not a single one.

Except this one... felt different. It stood in front of the capital itself, almost as if it were challenging the kingdom directly.

"...Don’t tell me this is his doing," Juno muttered.

"Sir?" his aide asked.

"Shennong," Juno said. The name alone made his stomach twist. "He’s connected to the Percival Barony. That’s where the first dungeon showed up. And now, they’re spreading."

"You think he’s behind this?"

"I don’t think but I know he’s involved somehow. This reeks of him."

Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly. Not enough to knock someone over—but enough for every soldier to pause. Tools stopped. Murmurs rippled through the workers.

"...Earthquake?" someone whispered.

"No," Juno said sharply. "Retreat! Pull back and take formation! Now!"

His voice rang out like a blade cutting through fog. Trained soldiers jumped to motion, forming defensive lines and pulling workers to safety.

Another tremor. Stronger this time.

Crack.

Everyone turned toward the dungeon. Thin fractures began to appear on the black wall—spreading like spiderwebs.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The entire front began to shatter piece by piece, falling like glass to the earth.

Juno raised his sword and pointed. "Shields up! Mages prepare counter-barriers! Archers ready your bows!"

Even the most skeptical among the knights were now tense. The massive wall crumbled completely, revealing an open void beyond it. A glowing blue tunnel gaped like the mouth of some ancient god.

Nothing came out.

"...Nothing?" a young soldier muttered.

Everyone held their breath.

And then—

Patter. Patter.

Small, scaly feet slapped against the stone as a tiny, bright green lizard came scuttling out. It was no bigger than a rabbit.

"...Pfft."

One knight burst out laughing.

Another snorted. "We... we were scared of that?"

The tension shattered like a dropped wine glass. Laughter rippled through the lines.

"Stand down! It’s just a stupid lizard!" someone yelled.

Even Juno’s lips twitched. "No... wait."

The lizard paused. It tilted its head... and then—

Its body convulsed violently. Its skin stretched, ripping in places as thick black scales pushed through. Its limbs elongated, tail snapping like a whip. In the span of five seconds, the tiny creature transformed into a grotesque, serpentine monster. Its head split into a cobra-like hood, fangs the size of spears flashing in the sun. Its body coiled with muscle, and its screech sounded like a thousand nails on metal.

"What... what the hell?!"

"FORMATION! BACK INTO FORMATION!"

It was too late.

The creature lunged forward, slamming into the front line like a boulder. Shields cracked, men flew backward. Blood sprayed the grass.

"Mages, now! Bind it!" Juno roared.

Dozens of chants echoed. Light flared. Chains of lightning and shadow wrapped around the creature’s neck and limbs.

But the beast twisted once, then flexed its muscles—and the magic snapped like twigs.

"Gods above," one mage gasped. "It broke high-tier bindings like nothing!"

The serpent-beast lunged again, tearing into the side flank. Screams filled the air as men were crushed or flung into the sky.

Juno galloped forward, his blade shining. "You want blood, monster?! You’ll get mine first!"

He leapt off his horse, driving his sword straight into the creature’s side. The scales stopped it cold.

"Tch!" He flipped back just in time to dodge a tail swipe that smashed a tree behind him into splinters.

The beast hissed—then locked eyes with him.

"...You’re intelligent, aren’t you?" Juno muttered, catching his breath.

The creature didn’t respond. It merely stared, then slowly turned and slithered back toward the dungeon entrance.

"What is it doing?" someone shouted.

"Is it retreating?!"

Juno’s eyes widened. "No... it’s not retreating. It’s guarding."

A beat of silence followed. Then, realization dawned on him.

"This wasn’t an accident," he muttered. "This... was a warning."

"Sir Juno!" a scout galloped toward him, out of breath. "We’ve received word—dungeons in the north just opened the same way. Monsters are flooding out!"

"Damn it," Juno hissed. "So this is happening everywhere..."

He stared back at the now-open dungeon. That serpentine beast now lay across the threshold like a watchful sentry.

Juno clenched his fists.

"So... this is what he warned us would happen."

He recalled the conversation he’d had with Shennong, with that maddening calm in his voice.

Juno’s eyes narrowed.

"...Maybe he really did go ahead and do it."

All around him, knights scrambled to tend the wounded, form new lines, and call in reinforcements. But Juno could barely hear them.

The war for Sturgon’s future had begun—and this was just the first move.